The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-09-18
NEW YORK JANIToRa
sens Rs.sens why Their Let 10 Net Alts
gether Happy.

0onno usnsons Why Their Les 10 Mes Alto
sether Happy.
It would hardly be supposed by the gen.
erai observer. but It IL mono tho less fact,
that with the increase In the number OF big
buildings tho number Of ianitors il decreasing.
For instance. where thirteen janitors were
formerly employed In the block which In
cludes the palatial structure Of the Equitable
Life Assurance Society. now there are only
three. Big buildings have diminished the
number Of janitors. Just as machinery has
made 1t possible for few artisans to do the
work Of many But power and wealth have
not always come with monopoly. and the JAM
tors OF the big buildings do not get pay pro-
portionate to the immen5ity OF the structures
under their guardianship.
"A janitor's life Is not altogether happy
one" said the janitor OF large downtown
building devoted to banks. insurance COM
panies, and lawyers Offices. His chief enemy
Is the Office boy. Any office boy who sets his
mind upon It can secure the discharge OF q
janitor. How7 He musses up his employers
office. scatters papers about, gets the employer
angry, and lays It all on the janitor! The boy
protests with the innocence OF heather
Chinee with deck Of cards up his sleeve that
he found the ONCE Just that way when he came
in. His employer believes him and complains
he perhaps makes 1t personal grievance. It's
of little use for the janitor to deny the charge
OF negligence. II he does he Is put down for
liar as well as q drono. and his departure is
likely to be hastened."
but do not janitors hold pretty steadily to
their placesP"
mo, the contrary Is the fact" replied the
veteran janitor. II have been here nearly
twenty-eight years, but can think OF but one
other building, even among those OF recent
What Is the reason 2"
are ys.y II 70 attend 70 ar
I have pointed out. he must Keep on good
this requires tact as well as industry. and even
these will not always accomplish y II there Is
sSa Se aass Sog paeo ao
pants have gone, and at certain seasons OF tho
the windows and begins sweeping. While the
drought Of cool air plays upon him from rom. with IN.
within s the ne St
healthy. and pulm pulling and other diseases are
living hisSS " in the cool air in these hot sum-
That Is true: but there; again. the hsji anttors
with all the foulness and efluv!um that natu-
rally rises from below: and on damp. hot days
It Is extremely. oppressive near the top. For
II is certain that the families Of ianitors are
frequently visited BY sickness and death, and
OF their quarters. But janitors have ono i'd
vantage, and that Is comparative seclusion for
their families from the associations OF the
street. They are enabled, to bring up their
oh!l ao% n in isn|sors P5ava''
I'm the largest b.il ID b. the owners ct
the smaller buildings by the tenants. at from
50 to 500 a tenant. In the large buildings
offices are let with the services Of the janitor.
Of course the janitor's rent is free. Not only
the cleanliness but the preservation OF build
ing depends much upon having the right Kind
Of janltor: See that marble" pointing to q
well-preserved marble flooring, but Tor the
care with which have that washed night after
night It would present a very different appear.
ance, and soon be ingrained with dirt that
could not be got out. After awhile owners will
learn better than most Of them know now. how
much the value. Of. their property depends on
the ianitor, and then janitors will be- more
carefully selected, and hold their places longer
when selected"